Quiet talks about "restorative niches," the places introverts go or the things they do to recharge their energy. What are your favorite restorative niches?

Posted Mar. 04, 2013
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jwbriggs13

Join Date: 05/09/12

Posts: 33

RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

I start the day by getting up an hour before my husband. I light a scented candle, get a cup of coffee, and sit down to enjoy quiet time with a book before the day gets really gets busy. I have done this since graduate school and have continued the practice for many years. I also like to escape to the arm chair in my study with a book or to take a drive into the country with my husband--cell phones on vibrate.

Posted Mar. 04, 2013
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cynthiaa

Join Date: 04/14/11

Posts: 72

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RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

I like to hang out with my animals, and do quiet things like garden, read, knit, etc.

Posted Mar. 04, 2013
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sallyh

Join Date: 09/07/12

Posts: 80

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RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

I mainly recharge by reading, but just being home alone, without any TV or radio on, can be restorative. I'm a musician and when I'm at the end of my rope, I escape by listening to classical keyboard music.

Posted Mar. 04, 2013
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joyces

Join Date: 06/16/11

Posts: 368

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RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

I am an avid, some say addicted, gardener and a day when I can not spend some time outdoors playing in the dirt is not good. If weather or an aching body prevent that I will be plunked with a book and a cup of coffee. Also, the day does not start till I have my coffee and daily newspaper fix including the crossword and suduko.

Posted Mar. 04, 2013
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BamaCarol

Join Date: 04/16/12

Posts: 37

RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

I recently changed my schedule to one where I exercise or swim prior to work rather than afterwards. There are fewer people at the gym/pool in the mornings and I can relax and get in a better frame of mind before heading into the office. After work I unwind by reading or doing needlework. I find that doing something creative with my hands frees up my mind and allows me to have a much slower pace. Most evenings my husband and I do not turn on the television and the house is quiet while we pursue our relaxation. He works puzzles such as Suduko while I read or stitch.

Posted Mar. 04, 2013
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kiml

Join Date: 05/19/11

Posts: 12

RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

I love my alone time. My favorite time is when I have time by myself in the afternoon. I also am able to restore when I can sit and read quietly. Being alone helps me to feel relaxed and focus my mind.

Posted Mar. 04, 2013
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cathyk

Join Date: 02/16/13

Posts: 17

RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

Reading, but if I want some quiet time while within a large group of people, it's amazing how I get get it more easily by holding a smartphone rather than a book. Ha! I have books on my phone.

Also, I'm a bridge player -- perfect pasttime for people who prefer puzzles.

Posted Mar. 05, 2013
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davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 1095

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RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

Cathy - that's brilliant - I hadn't thought of that! I read something recently written by a mother who said that when she wanted to model quiet reading she found it best to read a print book rather than a tablet as the children wanted to know what was on her screen the whole time; but were quite happy getting settled into their own books when she was reading print. Fortunately, it would seem the opposite works with adults!

Posted Mar. 05, 2013
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pennyp

Join Date: 03/22/12

Posts: 221

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RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

Reading, yoga and listening to music, also painting.

Posted Mar. 05, 2013
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lisag

Join Date: 01/12/12

Posts: 298

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RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

Tip: even if you're not listening to anything, put in ear buds. You can stick the wire down your shirt, in a pocket, etc., but you'll appear to be unavailable to talk and you can read or write or do whatever and people won't think you odd if you don't respond to them!!!

Lisa

Posted Mar. 05, 2013
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BamaCarol

Join Date: 04/16/12

Posts: 37

RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

lisag, I do that quite often at the office if I want some quiet time to do some thinking. In my position, there are people stopping by my desk all day long asking questions and interrupting. If I want some quiet time I simply put the ear buds in and turn to where my back is mostly towards the aisle. Personally, I think open cubicles are the worst thing invented for work places. There is absolutely no privacy and people feel like it is OK to interrupt even when I do put on my ear buds.

Posted Mar. 06, 2013
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rebajane

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 184

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RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

joyces, a woman after my own heart! I do the crossword puzzle and sudoku every morning along with my coffee and often get anxious if something prevents me from doing them. Most of the time I prefer time to myself. My favorite restorative activity is to go and walk rescue dogs twice a week. They appreciate all that I am without judgment and I so need that. I also started yoga recently and that has helped ease the anxieties

Posted Mar. 06, 2013
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lesleym

Join Date: 05/12/11

Posts: 34

RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

On Sunday mornings, I get up later than usual, without having to rush off anywhere, make a cup of coffee and watch CBS Sunday morning. Otherwise, it's great to wake up, make a cup of coffee and sit on the back porch swing & read a book.

Posted Mar. 07, 2013
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Lily

Join Date: 03/06/13

Posts: 6

RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

Silence, while doing some of my favorite quiet things:

Being home & getting lost in a book or movie on dvd with my cat close beside me; being out in nature; spending time with animals; reading reviews and choosing books & movies to put on hold at my library website; looking at art in museums of the world on their websites; and enjoying Stumbleupon finds online.

Posted Mar. 07, 2013
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jeannew

Join Date: 04/23/11

Posts: 72

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RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

I have three different places in the house where I like to read: a loveseat in my bedroom, a sofa in my "library" and a sofa in the family room where I read while my husband watches hockey. I'm still not sure what makes me choose to sit in a particular spot at any given time. Oddly enough, when I'm exhausted from overstimulation sometimes I just want to sit mindlessly in front of the TV. But I can't watch anything serious. Cooking/decorating shows are OK as are old sitcoms. Nothing that makes my brain work; it's recharging!

Posted Mar. 07, 2013
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dianes

Join Date: 05/16/11

Posts: 64

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RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

Quiet time in my room or a bubble bath. If it is warm out I love to sit in the woods and read.

Posted Mar. 08, 2013
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lisag

Join Date: 01/12/12

Posts: 298

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RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

Forgot to mention, I go on solitary retreats once or twice a year. There's a place about 1.5 hours from me where you can get a small cabin (with all modern amenities) for $55/night. It's on dozens of acres of forested land where you can take walks. There are only three cabins, so I never run into anyone else, and there's a chapel, a gazebo and lots of swings and benches where you can sit and meditate, write or whatever you please. It's run by a Catholic group but you don't have to go there for religious reasons at all. It's all about the solitude and there's no pressure about religion. There are other places you can go and spend just the day, both retreat sites and even the Botanical Gardens. Those are other great places to re-charge your batteries.

Posted Mar. 08, 2013
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bettyt

Join Date: 05/12/11

Posts: 170

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RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

I hibernate with my books.

Posted Mar. 12, 2013
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gwendolyndawson

Join Date: 10/20/10

Posts: 63

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RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

Reading, of course!

Posted Mar. 13, 2013
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donan

Join Date: 08/17/11

Posts: 2

RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

Daily reading is a must and always has been. I try to accomplish most of my work and errands in the morning and the afternoon is for reading or computer work/activities. I also very much enjoy driving alone. Time without conversation and being able to get absorbed in news or music is very relaxing and rejuvenative. I also like gardening, knitting, and shopping (alone!).

Posted Mar. 13, 2013
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sandyp

Join Date: 02/21/13

Posts: 1

RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

Reading, crocheting/knitting. I find that introverts don't need to be entertained by others. We're quite content being by ourselves. I work with the MBTI and see this verified every day. I like one-on-one activities such as lunch and a movie with a good friend.

Posted Mar. 13, 2013
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pams

Join Date: 12/18/12

Posts: 4

RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

Spending the first hour of my day in silence enjoying coffee and the paper. Have to get my brain going by doing a daily Sudoko puzzle. Reading of any type - books, newspapers, magazines - is always a respite for me. It calms my brain and restores me. Also like driving alone in the car, even commuting or driving in traffic, as long as I'm not under time pressure.

Posted Mar. 14, 2013
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lisag

Join Date: 01/12/12

Posts: 298

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RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

As a side note related to what so many have expressed, several years ago my family took a vacation to Yosemite National Park. It was not all that long after I'd had knee surgery, so I was still wincing from the pain. The rest of the family wanted to go on a fairly long walk, so, knowing I could never make it I told them it's no problem for me if they'd drop me off at the hotel in the park (POSH!), so I could sit on the verandah (this WAS a verandah, too) and read for the several hours they'd be gone. Next door was a shop where I could buy lunch and I could go into the hotel lobby when it got too warm (and it did...). To me it was heavenly! To them, incomprehensible.... But this is the same reason I have the family drop me off to do laundry, in the middle of a vacation, while they're off hither and yon. Without breaks I'm not sure I could stand being around people - even those I love! - so long.

Posted Mar. 17, 2013
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melissay

Join Date: 12/11/11

Posts: 6

RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

Definitely curling up with a book in a quiet place. Sometimes I have to be creative to find that particular spot. During my lunch hour l will pull into the back of my public library parking lot and watch the birds or listen to them sing. Without this time away from the office my day would be more difficult.

Posted Mar. 18, 2013
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joyces

Join Date: 06/16/11

Posts: 368

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RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

lisag I had to chuckle at your ways of getting alone time. As I thought about it I realized how often I use various ruses to get alone. As I live close to my children as well as the grands which are teenage to toddler there are lots of family events where the " let's go to lunch or let's stop at the mall come up". Since I am not fond of eating out and hate shopping and have usually by this time had my fill of together I almost always make an excuse. Saying the I am tired or I am not hungry or my feet need a rest usually works even if none of them is really true. At least I can get alone in my car and go home to my house.

Posted Mar. 18, 2013
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joyces

Join Date: 06/16/11

Posts: 368

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RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

lisag I had to chuckle at your ways of getting alone time. As I thought about it I realized how often I use various ruses to get alone. As I live close to my children as well as the grands which are teenage to toddler there are lots of family events where the " let's go to lunch or let's stop at the mall come up". Since I am not fond of eating out and hate shopping and have usually by this time had my fill of together I almost always make an excuse. Saying the I am tired or I am not hungry or my feet need a rest usually works even if none of them is really true. At least I can get alone in my car and go home to my house.

Posted Mar. 20, 2013
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pennyn

Join Date: 10/21/10

Posts: 23

RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

I can honestly say that any place I can read is a restorative niche...Be it parked on a street. Or finding an empty seat in a park or anywhere it looks inviting. But I will say be careful in museums...:)

Penny

Posted Mar. 21, 2013
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davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 1095

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RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

Hi Penny, sorry to be dense but why do you have to be careful in museums? Just in case you get taken for one of the exhibits? :)

Posted Mar. 21, 2013
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virginia

Join Date: 09/23/12

Posts: 1

RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

A quiet place without any noises. Sitting in darkness is sublime.

Posted Mar. 22, 2013
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lisag

Join Date: 01/12/12

Posts: 298

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RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

Another thing I'd like to recommend, some have mentioned doing sudoku puzzles. I like to draw "Zentangles." If you haven't seen them, give them a Google. They look difficult but when you break it down bit by bit they're really not. Anyone can do them at any level. They require concentration, so I find them very freeing and restful for my mind. Give them a try!

Posted Mar. 24, 2013
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cathyk

Join Date: 02/16/13

Posts: 17

RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

Gosh, Melissay, I so relate. I had to get away during lunch. When teaching, I would sit in my classroom and when doing office work, I would drive someplace where there were trees. It was uncomfortable for me because it was odd behavior, but otherwise I would become exhausted.

I wonder what all of us would be like if gathered together. We would be able, I'm sure, to spot the tell-tale book bulge in our bags and the earphones, whether they led anywhere or not.

Posted Mar. 25, 2013
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juliaa

Join Date: 12/03/11

Posts: 146

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RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?

As so many others have said, reading is one way I recharge. Centering prayer is another. Longish walks alone is a third. Also, spending time with one or two close friends, rather than a large group, is often restorative for me.

Posted Apr. 08, 2013
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laurap

Join Date: 06/19/12

Posts: 130

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RE: If you're an introvert, what are your favorite restorative niches?